Community, politics to play bigger in Chamber

Published: December 19, 2004 12:00AM

By NAOMI SNYDER
Staff Writer
WOOSTER The new year will bring a refined direction to the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce as Bob Walton is handed the chairman's gavel and a new executive director is hired.
"I'm not criticizing the Chamber. There are a lot of things the Chamber has done well," Walton said. "We're still going to go the right way, just a slightly different direction."
Walton serves on the Wooster City Schools board and is vice president for finance and business at The College of Wooster. These experiences have taught him the importance of careful planning.
"We need a more carefully constructed strategic plan for the Chamber," Walton said.
The plan involves a multi-year commitment from Chamber members.
"We need to look at a long-range plan, so we're not starting over each year (when a new board president takes over)," Walton said.
According to Walton, there are two key things the plan will address taking political stands and being more assertive in key community issues.
He cited the involvement with the recent Wooster City Schools' levy as an example of how important the Chamber could be politically.
"I think it did make a difference to the passage of the levy that businesses took a stand. We clearly identified we think education is key to the business community," Walton said.
According to Greg Long, who will serve as chairman-elect, the Chamber is forming a political action committee that will serve as a separate entity to advance Chamber policies.
"With that we will be aggressive in identifying issues where the Chamber needs to step in and support or oppose," Walton said. "The board has been too passive, and we've made a commitment to become involved. We have made a conscious decision to get off the fence."
Long said he is hopeful the political action committee will be operational by Wooster's council race in November.
The second part of the plan, identifying key community issues, will mainly focus on economic development, according to Long.
"In five years, that issue may not be economic development, but right now it is," Long said. "We in Wooster have lived a pretty easy stretch, and we've never had to worry about economic development. What we're talking about is a new issue to this area."
Walton said economic development means something different to most people, and the Chamber will tackle the job of finding a middle ground.
"Our object will be to focus on Wooster," Walton said, adding there will be a close working relationship between the Chamber, the city of Wooster and the Wayne Economic Development Council.
The Chamber will first look at how businesses are operating and what needs to be done to help them grow into successful companies.
Walton suggested putting businesses interested in moving to Wooster on a fast track.
"We're talking about countering an established process of permits and inspections," Walton said.
Walton said permits and inspections are necessary, but need to be streamlined.
"If they're going to walk up to the table with a few million dollars they're going to put into our community, they want to know what is expected of them," Walton said.
He also said when trying to attract new business, Wooster must present itself in a realistic way.
"We need to understand we have many things to offer, but we do have some limitations. Let's focus on the things we can do well. We have a geographic location and skilled work force suitable for certain things," Walton said.
This strategic plan will be executed by the Chamber's new executive director, who should be in place by early January.
"We will lay out the plan for him, and he will follow along. He will be an integral part of putting everything together," Long said.
"The next board will direct policy and the executive director will implement that policy," Walton said.
Board Chairman Mike Lezak will turn his gavel over to Walton at its 105th annual dinner meeting on Jan. 20 at Greenbriar Conference & Party Centre.
Invitations to the dinner will be mailed to members. For more information, contact the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce at (330) 262-5735.
Business Editor and health reporter Naomi Snyder can be reached at (330) 287-1623 or e-mail nsnyder@the-daily-record.com.